Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label MD Issues Taxes Gas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MD Issues Taxes Gas. Show all posts

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Opt Ed Piece from Senator Nancy Jacobs

Opt Ed Piece from Senator Nancy Jacobs

Wed, Jun 26, 2013

Maryland State House – Call 911 – Ambulance Needed

Maryland drivers are getting ready to head to the emergency room for a transfusion, as Governor O’Malley is sucking their life’s blood out of them, or should I say the few dollars they have left in their wallets.

With all the legislation that was passed in the recently ended legislative session, we should all be thankful that it only lasts for 90 days.  Otherwise we might be finding ourselves at the local soup kitchen for what this Governor is costing us.

On July 1, Martin O’Malley’s sticky fingers will plunge deep in our pockets to pull out an additional $2 dollars in toll fees for the Bay Bridge, the Harry W. Nice Bridge, the JFK Highway (I-95) and Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge.  Oh, that hand’s not finished yet – grab an additional dollar for the Harbor and Ft. McHenry tunnels and the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Next year when the Express Toll Lanes open on Interstate 95 we’ll have even more toll hikes with the variable toll rates lanes. All for the sake of cutting time off on our work commute. This gives whole new meaning to the phrase “time is money” with Governor Martin O’Malley in charge of your wallet. 

Until this year Governor O’Malley should have been forced to buy malpractice insurance to cover what his administration had not been doing – going after those who breeze through the E-Z pass tolls without paying.  In the last five years these toll-runners have chalked up nearly $6.7 million in unpaid tolls – and they want to dip into the pockets again of the law-bidding motorists.  Botched operation – get me a lawyer!

Now you take the surrounding states, Delaware has $10 in tolls for the entire state.  West Virginia has only one toll road (take me home country roads).  Our good friends in Virginia only pay $27.10 and that’s including the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel at $12.00.  Only the state of Pennsylvania equals our current total of $33.00 … and they have 15 toll roads compared to our 8 soon to be 9.  Really? I think I’m going to faint – grab the smelling salts.

The public is still choking on the Gas Tax we’re going to start paying on July 1, 2013, the same day that the tolls increase.  If the feds don’t add to our misery, you’ll be paying at least 62.5 cents per gallon in taxes by 2016.  My suggestion to you -- learn the Heimlich maneuver before then!

In just the past two years alone we’ve see car registration double (don’t forget to add the additional $3.50 the gas tax bill has included in raising the registration fee once again), titling a vehicle doubled, and car dealers processing fees doubled.  For those of you who found a car or truck too expensive to use – even moped and motor scooters owners found the “Tax Man” waiting like the Grim Reaper.  The addition of a $20 titling fee and an excise tax of 6 percent, requirement of insurance and the additional cost to purchase a helmet and protective eye wear…  We always have the option of riding a bike, rollerblades or a skateboard – oh wait, give’em time -- they’ll tax that too!    

Wait a dog gone minute – the intake from toll fees collected minus expenses for the fiscal years 2011 and 2012 is a whopping $621,460,763.  Oh my gosh -- the heart is beating double time, I’m having a hard time breathing!  Didn’t the MDTA say in 2011 that costs for repairs involving all these toll roads AND the expense of addressing traffic congestion along I-95 (the express toll lanes) and the Inter-county Connector in the DC area totaled $909,000,000.  Oh hon, one more year without another toll increase and the funds for all that work will have given us $130,000,000 to spare – the cost of gold-plated pacemakers for everyone in the state.

The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Maryland in 2012 reports that the standard for a three-person family has increased by an average of 54% in the last decade.  How much will these new taxes and fees increase that average?

Enough is enough; we haven’t even gotten to the wind and rain taxes O’Malley inflicted on us.

The only person dancing in the rain after the 2013 Legislative Session is Martin O’Malley. After July 1, 2013 the rest of us will be on life support.


[20130626 sdosm Op ed Jacobs]

People Jacobs-Nancy, People MD General Assembly, MD Gen Assembly Opera, MD Issues Taxes, MD Issues Taxes Gas, MD Transportation Trust Fund, MD Transportation Tolls, MD Gen Assembly 2013
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

This week in The Tentacle: Gas Tax, schools, local politics and commentary on the 2012 presidential campaign and more

This week in The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com Gas Tax, schools, local politics and commentary on the 2012 presidential campaign and more

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Gas Pains and Rough Roads
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s fiscal year 2013 state budget, released a week ago, is a full menu of difficult choices. However, one of the most troubling is the lack of funding for police protection and highway user revenue for municipalities.

Losing His Mojo – If He Ever Had It

Norman M. Covert
The locker room echoed with praise for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and it was almost with disdain that my friend and former colleague spat out the name of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. How quickly the room emptied and the showers came on.

Happy Year of the Dragon!

Tom McLaughlin
Kuching, Malaysian Borneo – I am really not that concerned about these reptilian serpents or any of the other 12 animals that glide by every Chinese New Year. However, living here, one cannot help but join in the festivities.



Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Capitol Hill Daze
Roy Meachum
Democratic candidate Tom Hattery’s mean attitude had much to do with pushing him away, from me and the electorate; that was 20 years ago when the thought of Beverly Byron losing was almost unthinkable. Mr. Hattery’s primary win was at least shocking to many.

Time for Charter School Proponents

Earl 'Rocky' Mackintosh
I guess one can call it "Straight Jacket Approval" in that – once approved – public charter school start ups have to enter the cold cruel world of real estate.



Monday, January 23, 2012

Appalling and Disgusting
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
The truly memorable moment of the South Carolina primary debate last Thursday night occurred within the first 10 minutes.

How We Got Where We Are

Cindy A. Rose
Before we get all warm and fuzzy over Education Week reporting Maryland is ranked the #1 school in the nation, take a closer look at the list of criteria to get that #1 ranking.

Shadow Inventory Lurking

Michael Kurtianyk
In comic book lure and during the Golden Age of radio, Lamont Cranston was a wealthy young man in New York City who was known as “The Shadow.” The radio broadcasts began with that famous question: "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"



Friday, January 20, 2012

Katherine Straightens the Mess
Roy Meachum
Reporter Katherine Heerbrandt earned my professional admiration over the long years in Frederick; we were colleagues on the local newspaper. Her most recent journalistic coup must not pass unremarked upon.

How can Obama get re-elected?

Joe Charlebois
How does President Barack Obama expect to get re-elected? He has consistently stated throughout his three years in office that "My administration will not rest until every American who is able and ready and willing to work can find a job.” Is he serious?



Thursday, January 19, 2012

How Fortunate We Are
Patricia A. Kelly
George W. Wireman died last week. He was known as the train man, and so much more. He was a polio survivor, rejected by the Army because of his deformed feet and legs, who walked and hiked everywhere, and visited all 50 states, including Hawaii four times – and he never had a driver’s license.

GOP Primary Season: Whatcha Talking About?

Chris Cavey
It has been an interesting week for the Republican Party since the Mitt Romney rout in the Granite State. So, for those of you who have been living in a hole, or perhaps just returned from another dimension within the past seven days, here are some random observations to ponder.

There They Go Again – Another Tax Increase

Blaine R. Young
I thought it must have been a dream – actually, a nightmare – because I certainly never believed that in the current economic times someone would propose to raise yet another tax for the purpose of raising money to build something that the market has said repeatedly is not needed and likely will not be successful.



Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Let the Veepstakes begin
Kevin E. Dayhoff
The consensus continues to gather steam that the GOP nomination to challenge President Barack Obama for president this fall will be former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Perhaps all the drama now moves to who will be his choice for vice president.

All Mixed Up

Norman M. Covert
I am tho’ confuthed! I find myself burned up that the gaggle of Republican presidential candidates never misses an opportunity at self-immolation. I’m slipping over the edge now with the dual dilemma of new Sixth Congressional District boundaries and sibling rivalry among our GOP inhabitants.

Through the Darkness – Again

Tom McLaughlin
I am not exactly the poster child for vasectomy. Two years ago, I went to see a doctor who must have sterilized most of the men, who wanted the procedure, in Frederick County.



Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Afzali Crashes Congressional Primary
Roy Meachum
Never in my over 28 years writing about Frederick politics can I remember when an elected freshman official has been so unrelenting and noisy – some say obnoxious – as Kathy Afzali.

The Argument for Slots

Farrell Keough
In our current environment, we are seeing new taxes under all sorts of rubrics. For instance, we have paid dearly over the years for our roads and highway systems – yet, today, we are facing newly designated tax schemes like Toll Roads.

Padding One’s Resumé At Our Expense

Shawn Burns
It is no secret that Gov. Martin O’Malley wants to run for president in 2016. He has an ambitious list of proposals he would like to see enacted in the next four years in order to bolster his resumé in order to appeal to progressives and Democrats on the national level.



Monday, January 16, 2012

Raw Political Ambition – Nationally and Locally
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
Why is it that partisan politicians constantly place their own aspirations ahead of their party's best interests?


The Sixth, Education and Grandbabies

Michael Kurtianyk
More than any other, the most discussed topic in my circles recently has been about the candidates for the Sixth Congressional District seat. There were quite a few surprises, but before looking at some specific candidates, here is the list:

This week in The Tentacle www.thetentacle.com

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Steve Kelly – Gazette: Miller wants to ensure gas tax revenue would go to transportation projects

Miller wants to ensure gas tax revenue would go to transportation projects


Some say constitutional amendment is stronger, hands-off measure

By Steve Kelly, Staff Writer Friday, November 18, 2011

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said last week that he favors a super-majority vote in the legislature to transfer transportation money to other uses rather than a constitutional amendment that would keep the money off limits for other purposes.

The issue surfaced recently with talk of a possible gas tax increase to fund transportation projects, which the General Assembly could address in its upcoming session.

Transportation advocates and some business leaders have said they could support a gas tax increase to bolster the state’s depleted Transportation Trust Fund, but with the provision that a firewall be erected so the money only could be used for needed transportation infrastructure projects… http://www.gazette.net/article/20111118/NEWS/711189662/miller-wants-provision-to-ensure-gas-tax-revenue-would-go-to&template=gazette

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Monday, October 17, 2011

Washington Post: O’Malley urges lawmakers to consider 15-cent gas-tax hike

www.washingtonpost.com
O’Malley said the General Assembly must begin considering a 15-cent increase to Maryland’s gas tax to fund road construction, public transit and other transportation projects...

Kevin Earl Dayhoff Gee, I shocked. Shocked, I tell you. Well, maybe not: http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4624 and http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4679
www.thetentacle.com
In a little over a month, the Maryland General Assembly will hold its 15th speci...See More


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Sunday, October 22, 2006

N. Gregory Mankiw - The Pigou Club Manifesto: Raise the Gas Tax

http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/10/pigou-club-manifesto.html

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2006


The Pigou Club Manifesto

In today's Wall Street Journal, I offer a manifesto for the Pigou Club, the elite group of pundits and policy wonks with the good sense to advocate higher Pigovian taxes. (Click here for a partial membership list.)

Raise the Gas Tax By N. Gregory Mankiw

With the midterm election around the corner, here's a wacky idea you won't often hear from our elected leaders: We should raise the tax on gasoline. Not quickly, but substantially. I would like to see Congress increase the gas tax by $1 per gallon, phased in gradually by 10 cents per year over the next decade. Campaign consultants aren't fond of this kind of proposal, but policy wonks keep pushing for it. Here's why: .... http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/10/pigou-club-manifesto.html
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